8/22/06 - CHET TAYLOR, COMPANION OF SEATTLE SLEW, 1914-2006

Chet Taylor, the longtime companion and bodyguard of the immortal thoroughbred racehorse Seattle Slew, passed away on August 21, 2006.  He was 92 years of age.  Born on February 22, 1914, Mr. Taylor, of Ellensburg, Washington, was the father of Mickey Taylor, who, along with wife Karen Pearson Taylor, was the principal owner of Seattle Slew.

Chet and Leola Taylor came into the public eye in the spring of 1977.  In January of that year Mr. Taylor had assumed the role of night watchman for Seattle Slew, amid growing concerns for the safety of the famous racehorse.  Mr. and Mrs. Taylor parked their Winnebago camper outside Seattle Slew's stall and kept nightly vigils with their guard dog Lance to ensure the well being of the only undefeated Triple Crown champion in American racing history.  Having such trustworthy family at the side of their champion was very comforting for Mickey and Karen Taylor.  Chet Taylor remained night watchman until November of 1978 when Seattle Slew retired as perhaps the greatest thoroughbred in racing history.

Seattle Slew seemed to love Chet and the feeling was mutual.  On the NBC Evening News of May 6, 1977, the day before Seattle Slew won the Kentucky Derby, Mr. Taylor told reporter Dick Schaap that he "feels better with this horse than with people."  But Mr. Taylor certainly felt good with people also, as evidenced by how friends and acquaintances held him in such high regard.

Seattle Slew's former groom, John Polston, called Mr. Taylor "the finest man I have ever met."